Johnny Connolly

Not to be confused with Johnny Óg Connolly.

Not to be confused with Johnny B. Connolly.

For the Irish hurler, see Johnny Connolly (hurler).

Johnny Connolly was an Irish musician from Connemara, and one of Ireland's most prominent players of the melodeon (one-row button accordion).^[1][2] In a 2008 TG4 interview, Connolly described how he first took up the instrument: his parents left the children home at Inis Bearacháin to go watch currach racing, and Connolly's sister showed him where their parents kept their melodeon locked up, which he commenced to play for the rest of the day, beginning his ties to the instrument.^[3][4] Connolly has been described as "king of the melodeon", the best player of his generation, and catalyst for increased interest in the single-row melodeon in Irish music.^[5]

Connolly's son, Johnny Óg Connolly, is a well-known player of the Irish button accordion.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

• An tOileán Aerach (1993)
• Drioball na Fáinleoige (1998)
• An Mileoidean Scaoilte (2004)

References

1. Fintan Vallely (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York University Press. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-8147-8802-8.
2. Review: Johnny Connolly, Drioball na Fainleoige (Clo Iar-Chonnachta, 1999). Bill Simmonds, Rambles.net
3. Galway accordion great Johnny Connolly on TG4. Galway Advertiser, 16 October 2008
4. Review: Johnny Connolly, An Mileoidean Scaoilte, Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 157; 59 minutes; 2004. Geoff Wallis, Irish Music Review, 17 January 2005
5. Ring of Gullion Comhaltas Welcomes Johnny Connolly ‘King of the Melodeon’ to Forkhill. Cross Examiner, 28 August 2012